Party political wrangling delays announcement of new Greek PM

Athens
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The announcement of a new Greek government and prime minister is due to be announced Wednesday but the names of prospective candidates for the newly vacant position of Greek prime minister changes as often as the politicians change their minds.

Internal party political wrangling has delayed the formation of a new Greek interim coalition government. With an announcement due shorty after noon, Wednesday, to announce the new prime minister of Greece and the cabinet, noon has passed with no word.

The names of the front runners for post of prime minster have changed since Tuesday. Widely tipped as the favourite for new premier, Former European Central Bank Vice President Lucas Papademos, has been in Greece for two days. According to Ekathimerinino one had been in contact with him regarding the position. Instead his name has been replaced with that of Ioannis Koukiadis, Athens News reports. Koukiadis is the head of the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, and a former PASOK government minister before serving as a member of the European Parliament.

Reports that the appointment of Lucas Papademos had been vetoed by Greek Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos were denied by the finance minster in a statement issued on Wednesday. (Ekathimerini)Meanwhile much of the delay in forming a new government has been blamed on Antonis Samaras, leader of the opposition party New Democracy.

Writing in Ekathimerini Nick Malkoutzis presents an interesting piece that summarizes the situation in Greece. He writes that the current party disputes makes us "witnesses to the final days of a bankrupt political system." He goes on to say "The pathogeny of Greek politics has been laid bare. Until recently, for many people abroad this crisis was caused by the lazy Greeks, the corrupt Greeks, the Greeks who don’t pay their taxes and the Greeks who retire at 50. The Greek people are not blameless but perhaps now the world has a better idea of where to locate the roots of this country’s problems: in the backyards of decision makers who shirked their responsibilities, who ruled for their own benefit and who always took the easy options."